Commemorative

Christmas Eve at the Front

An interesting letter has just been received by Mrs Packer, of Broadclyst, from her husband, Corpl Packer of A Company, 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, who is serving with the Expeditionary Force in Northern France. In the course of a letter he describes a remarkable incident which occurred on Christmas Eve between the British and German trenches.

Sunday May 27th was a memorable day for the Cook family of Higher Clovelly, for on that day, after an absence of over 10 years, Driver ‘Dan’ Cook, RA, returned to his native village.

In an interview with our local representative he gave the following narrative – ‘I joined the Colours in 1935, was drafted to India and six years later was sent to North Africa, where, after going through the campaign in Eritrea and the big fight at Umbullagga, I was eventually taken prisoner when we were surrounded at Knightsbridge, near Tobruk. I was first sent to a prison camp at Naples and later with about 8,000 others to be a big camp at Maceratta, where after about eight months we were split up in groups and sent to work in different parts of Italy. I was sent to Zevio, near Verona, and worked there as camp cook.

On September 8th we heard rumours of an Armistice and the next morning, finding the guard absent we all dispersed to different farms in the neighbourhood. I went with a pal to where he had been working and remained there for about nine months. Word came through that ‘Jerries’ and Fascists were searching for British Tommies so we cleared off to the mountains and joined the Patriots and assisted them for about eleven months, when we were told to present ourselves to the 5th American Army near Verona, who sent work to my people that I was safe, the first they had heard from me for two years.’

‘Dan’ is the son of Mr and Mrs D Cook and one of a family of 12, seven of whom are serving in the Forces or on agricultural work.

Gazette article dated 5 June 1945

How’s This For A Record?

Here, surely, is a local record for evacuee billeting!

Mrs O’Brien, writing to the Editor from Richmond Farm, Appledore, states: “There are eleven of us – six children and five grown-ups and we have been in the same billet since our arrival, October 1940, and, I must add, in perfectly happy conditions. I don’t think that anyone can beat that for length of stay with similar size family”. Mr Wm Rendle, of Richmond Farm, in a footnote in verification adds that they have all been one big happy family.

In the picture, from left to right are: Standing, Miss Patricia O’Brien, Miss Joyce Plumb, Michael O’Brien, Mrs N O’Brien, Maurice O’Brien, Mrs G Harris. Sitting: Mrs Plumb, Frank O’Brien, Mr W Rendle, Peter Harris, Mr E Plumb and Margaret O’Brien.
Thus, commencing with Mr and Mrs Plumb, there are three generations evacuated to this billet. They came here from Lewisham, through Mr P O’Brien, who is in the Army and was at that time stationed at Northam.
Mrs N O’Brien’s husband is in the Royal Navy.
Gazette article dated 20 June 1944

Born On The Same Day As Prince Andrew

Inscribed Bibles And Crested Silver Spoons For Babies

Picture above is the scene at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, when the Mayoress of Bideford, Miss Gladys Fulford, presented inscribed Bibles to the babies born on the same day as the Royal child.
Born the same day as the Royal Prince’ read the inscriptions. As a personal give, the Mayoress gave the babies silver spoons bearing the crest of the Borough of Bideford.
At the nursing home, she met Mrs Ruby Vanstone, Northcote, Shebbear, and her daughter, Millicent Ruby, Mrs Anne Fox, her husband and their son, Christopher James.
In the photograph are: The Mayoress, Mrs W R Hellyer (matron), Mrs Fox, Mr Fox and Mrs Vanstone.
On Friday afternoon the Mayoress visited the North Devon Infirmary, where she presented bibles and silver spoons to the twin daughters of Police Constable and Mrs Ivor Rennles. Mrs Rennles had been staying with her parents, Mr and Mrs Leonard Braund, 20 Lower Gunstone, Bideford. Her husband is stationed at Teignmouth. His parents, Mr and Mrs J Rennles, live at Atlantic View, Kipling Terrace, Westward Ho!
The full Gazette article is dated 4 March 1960